Winding of cinematograph films and the like



Sept. 2 1924.

A. E. sHmLow ET AL WINDING OF CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 19, 1922 HH'orney.

Patented Sept. 2,1924.

l asenzss PATENT orifice,

ALBERT EDWARD SHIRLOW, OF GLENHUNTLY (NEAR MELBOURNE), AND THOMAS BARTLETT MQDIARMID, F .MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA.

WINDXNG 0F CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS .AND THE lApplication led August 19, 1922. Serial No. 5825308A To all whom t may concer/n;

Be it known that ALBERT EDWARD SHIR- Low and THOMAS BARTLETT MCDIARMID, both citizens of the Commonwealth of Austra-lia, and residents of Flower Street, Glenliuntly, near Melbourne, and 21-29 Burns Lane, Melbourne, respectively, both in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in and Relating to the Winding of Cinematograph Films and the like, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to the winding of cinematograph lilms and the like, and has for its object the winding of such lms in a rapid and expeditious manner without 'the diiiiculties and breakages resulting with the mechanism at present in use. v v

The method at present employed is crude and consists in. passin the ilm from the spool, past the lens o the projector, and winding the same on a second spool, the outer end becoming theinnerend, necessitatfor further use.

This method is defective for the above reason and also for the reason that great loss is involved in breakages and the liandling in rewindin rlhis invention as been devised in order to provide improved means whereby the rewinding operation is dispensed with, the film being wound 'on a spool after the projection in such a manner that it is immediately ready for further projection or use.

In accordance with this invention the film after passingl through the projector is. carried and is eld to a second spool ca able of rotation, the title end of the film, held and disposed on the outside of Ythe second spool, the operation being such that the ccnvolutions of the film, in rotawindin tion, ta e the next' inside position, so that the end of the film is at the innermost coil of the winding, and the title is on the outside windings in advance of the theme' thusthe lm is ready forimmediate re-use, in the known manner.

An essential characteristic embodied in J0 Athis invention consists, after 'the passage of the film' through the gate of the cinema machine, in passing the title lend of said lilm between angular abutting edges of a flexible and resilient or otherband, which is accommodated against the inner circumferential 'ing the rewinding before the film is ready ing surface of a revolvable drum, so mounted that the axis thereof is disposed at an angle to the axis of the feeding spool. A

A further essential feature consists in placing a exibly mounted and -resiliently surfaced roller or rollers over the lilm, the roller or rollers by their engagement with the film surface, the primary and subsequent layers of which are disposed between the surface or" `the roller or rollers and the resilient or other band described, are caused to move in the opposite direction thereto and towards the centre of said drum.

A further essential feature' consists in forming the film receiving spool with a detachable side to allow of the winding of the flinthereon when the spool is positioned -in the winding drum.

` But in order to more readily understand the invention it will now be described with j reference to' the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus construction according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof. Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the path of the lm after leaving ,the feeding spool to the rewinding on to the inner surface of the drum. s

Figure 4 is a plan view of an alternative construction of the adjustable inner support- 'ingzmembers foi-the inner'layers of lm.

igure 5 i part plan view of a further' alternative ofgure d.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the resiliently surfaced roller and one of the flexibly mounted ulleys.

Figure g is -a side elevation of the rewound lilmheld between the removable sides torminthe spool.

igure 8 is a detail view of the means for securing the detachable .side of the spool to the other spool member after the lm is rewound in the drum, and

Figure 9 is an enlarged part .view of the flexible band.

According to this invention the end of the The resilient'and flexible band 5 is disposed against the inner circumferential surace of a movably mounted drum 7 arranged so that the axis 8 of said drum 7 is at an an le to the axis of the feedin spool 2. 'he spool frame is provided with spokes or arms 9, some or all of which are rovided with radialv slots 10 to accommo ate adjustable supports .11, held in position in th radial slots 10 by means of screws 12.

The object of having the supports 11 adjustable is for the reason that lms vary in length and, said supports occupy their innermost position during the windlng of the film and are not spread out to engage with the surface of sald film until same has been completely wound.

The outer end of the film being held between the abutting angular edges of the flexible and resilient band 5, is then caused to follow the path of said band by means of a flexibly mounted and resiliently surfaced roller 13 which is preferably formed on a grooved wheel 14 which is revolvably mounted to a rod 15 having a universal joint 16 disposed preferabl midway thereon.

The inner end of t e rod 15 is supported on a spindle 17, which also supports a grooved ulley 18, and by means of a flexible or ot er belt 19, motion is transmitted to the pulley 14, from the pulley 18.

The spindle -17 on the inside connects a spindle 20 by means of a universal joint 21, so that the wheels 14-18 may operate at an anle suitl the angle of the drum 7.

o ars 22, are fixed to the spindles 17--20 in order to kee p them in their respective places, and on t e outer end o f the spindle 20 is a pulley 23 to connect, by means of a belt'24 or other means, the driving pulley of the cinema machine, and thus impart the same'feeding sp'eed from the s ool 2 to the .receivin or rewinding drum escribed.

The oject 'of having the pulleys 14-18 flexibly mounted is to allow them to move upwardly towards or in the direction of the centre of the drum 7, as shown in dotted lines Figure 1, and as each subsequent convolution of films comes into position, so the roller 13 rises and continues to do so until the inner layer or end is reached.

The mechanism so far deribed with the exception to those parts having direct reference to the cinema machine such as for instance, the gate and feed sprocket 3 and spool 2 ma be supported upon a framework 26-27, alt ough it is desired -to be understood that the mechanism may be suspended from the existingcinema framework or supportsor from any convenient place wherein the apparatus may be conveniently operated. a

The object of the rod 15` bein provided with a universal joint 16 is for t e purpose of allowing the roller 13rand wheel .14 to films and the like,

be swung clear so= as to remove the rewound film together with its reel or spool'clear of the drum 7.

On the inner face 28 of the drums 7 a shoulder 29 is formed and a thumb screw 30 or other adjustable means is adapted to engage the surface of said shoulder 29, in order to retard any excess movement of the drum which might be detrimental to the film, and preferably a cushion 31 is disposed between the end of the screw 30, and face of the shoulder 29, so as to ensure a reasonable retarding means upon the drum.

The adjustable screw 30 contactsv sufficiently with the surface of the shoulder 29 to stop the drum 7 momentarilyshould any slack occur in the film 1, and theroller or rollers 13 functions so that the slaclrness will be absorbed in the already completed convolutions or in the subsequent one.

As an alternative as regards the adjust.

able supports 11, a series of steel' spring 'bands 32 may be secured to foot pieces 33 movably disposed in radial slots 34 formed in the spool side 35, the spring bands 32 being arranged in such a manner that they overlap and form one continuous circular support, and as an alternative a single continuous spring xband 32 may be formed with overlapping ends as shown in Figure 5, so that an even and continuous circular support is provided capable of adjustment to suit the diameter of the central space of the film. Figure 7 shows the spool when withdrawn from, the drum 7 in readiness for further pro'ectio-ns or other purposes.

igure 8 illustrates the end of the spindle 7", so formed with flats 7*, that a side 7, may be placed thereover and by turning the side 7c in the direction of the arrow'or viceversa, the side 7 fits into the groove cut in the spindle 7, thus allowing the rewound film and spool to be withdrawn from the drum 7.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent -is 1. Means for windin cinematograph films andthe like comprismg a film-feedin spool, a rotating film receiving drum, an a band arranged within and against the mner circumferential surface of the druml and having angular abuttin edges for receiving the titleend of the lm after same has passed through ther ate of the projector.

2. Means for" win lng cinematograph compris' a feeding spool, a windings ool disposed 1n a winding drum, a band insi e the drum s lit to receive the title end of the film, a ro er device for guidmg the film coils as they wind, in rotation, towards the center of the drum, and means for driving the roller device at the same 1sspeed as thedrive of the machine.

3. eans for winding cinematograph films f4. Means for winding i cinematoraph for driving the roller device at the same4 speed as the drive of the machine, and means for retarding the movement of the drum for the purposes specified.

films and the like, comprislng a rotary rum, a film receiving spool within the drum and a flexible and resilient band formed with angular abutting edges to receive the title en of the lm.

5. Means for winding cinematograph films and the like, comprising a lilm receiving spool, a detachable side on the said spool, a rotatable inclined winding drum enclosing said s ool, and driving means, comprising a ilexib y mounted resilient roller, a grooved pulle connected to the roller, an arm provide with a universal joint and pivotally connecting at one end to said grooved pulley, a second tgrooved pulley mounted at the opposite en of said arm, a support disposed rearwardly of the winding drum, a spindle carried by said support substantially parallel with the axis of the winding drum and I carrying the said second pulley and a ilexible drivin member between the first and second pul eys.

6. Means for winding cinematograph films and the like, comprising a feedin' spool, a winding drum, the Aaxis of whie is disposed at an an le to the axis ofl the feedings col, and driving means consisting of an inclined spindle, a rearwardly dispose groovepulley on the spindle, a spindle pro-l vided with means for imparting relative' speed to the winding drum from the cinematograph machine, and a universal/joint between the spindles.

7. Means for winding cinematograph films and the like, comprising a winding drum, a resilient roller capable of moving towards the centre of the winding drum, a pivoted and grooved pulley carrying said resilient roller, a rear grooved ul e a flexible arm connecting said pu eys and having a universal joint formed thereon.

8. In apparatus for winding. cinematograph films and the like, having a winding drum; means to permit removal of a completed spool from the winding drum, consistin of a resilient roller, a flexible arm carrying the roller, and a universal joint dis osed therein, to permit of the resilient rol er being moved clear of said winding drum.

Signed at Melbourne, Victorla, Australia,

this 17th day of July, 1922.

ALBERT EDWARD SHIRLOW.

moms' BARRETT Mmmm. 

